Kings and Their Subjects

Trouble shared is trouble doubled.

Kings and Their Subjects

The emotional atmosphere was broken by a loud knock.

"Shay, can you help me let my companions in?"

I didn't need a better excuse to leave Rolo there for a bit.

I opened the door to the three mages. The man standing at the back was tall and scrawny. His brown hair hung in a tangled mess in his eyes. He wore a plain robe, a simple brown one that was not at all in keeping with the Sorcerer Lord's court. The first word that came to mind when I looked at him was plain. Still, there was something about him that raised an alarm inside me.

The two girls standing in front of him were also wearing nondescript cloaks, but the blue uniforms underneath immediately gave away their status.

"Hello," the taller girl began, "We are members of the Sorcerer Lord's court. My name is Iris, nice to meet you."

The girl held out her hand to me. I stared at her palm for a moment. Even though I couldn't see it, I had an intangible feeling, an instinctive knowing that she had woven magic around her fingers.

I did not take her hand. I was not surprised that this made her smile as if she had been expecting it. The two girls looked at each other, communicating without words, but the mage behind them didn't seem too interested. He seemed to prefer to be anywhere but on my doorstep.

"Please forgive the insolence of my subjects," Livius said. "They are too curious."

"Curious people die first," was all I said, and stepping aside from the doorway to let them in.

Livius himself looked surprised as if he hadn't expected my reaction, and the two girls looked at each other again.

"That's the truth," I smiled, but there was no joy in the gesture, only calculation. "Most monsters resent the idea of using magic on them without their permission."

"You may enter," I added.

Livius' eyes suddenly widened. "Shay..."

But it was too late, the first girl had crossed the threshold. She had barely put her foot in when she staggered, every last drop of air escaping her lungs. Iris immediately came up beside her in concern and tried to take her hand, but the small girl barely avoided her touch. However, as soon as she crossed the threshold, Iris had no time to concern herself with her companion as she was also struggling to stay on her feet.

It was only then that the third mage's gaze grew serious. He himself did not cross the threshold but stared with burning eyes as if he could not decide whether to attack or not.

"My name is Shaytan," I introduced myself with a predatory grin. "Nice to meet you guys."

"Shay, don't be so hard on them," Livius pleaded. "After all, I called them to help."

"Oho, really?" I asked, but my smile remained unchanged.

I just looked at the three mages for a moment, then sighed. The overbearing presence had vanished from the house without a trace.

"That is fortunate," I said. "We do need help."

I turned my back on them and started walking. The girls were gasping for breath as if they had been choking until then.

"Do come in, please," I said, stopping and looking back. "A cup of tea? I was just about to make a mug of cocoa."

The girls just stared for a moment and didn't move. It was the Sorcerer Lord who sighed and started walking towards me.

"Iris, I told you to behave," Livius chided. "Now come, do not refuse our host's hospitality."

"My Lord," Iris gasped. "Why...?"

Livius stopped, but I didn't bother, I simply went into the kitchen.

"I forgot to mention," I heard. "Shay is my junior."

Loud gasps followed.

Well, after that, they followed Livius into the kitchen in silence and took their seats on the chairs. The tension was almost palpable, but I remained unperturbed and bustled about boiling the water and making the two mugs of cocoa.

Iris suddenly stood up and bowed deeply, but I did not turn around.

"I sincerely apologize for my impertinence, sir."

She did not straighten up until I replied.

"Sit down and drink your tea," I said. "I don't hold grudges."

Iris sat back down. Livius himself took the cups out of the cupboard and I poured the tea into them without lifting a finger.

"Let this be a lesson, young ones," said Livius, and then he took a sip of his tea. "Even if you are subjects of a king, there is always someone more powerful than you."

"Alex," I called.

Although my voice was quiet, it conjured up the wolf like magic.

"Hello," he said barely acknowledging the mages sitting at our table.

He wasn't fond of mages. Precisely, of the kind who have blood on their hands or deal with the dark arts. Alex's demeanor could have made me more cautious but it did not. These mages were small fish.

"Take this up to Rolo," I told him, and Alex took the steaming mug without a word.

Alex took the steaming mug without a word, his eyes scanning the new arrivals with a mixture of suspicion and curiosity. He moved with the silence of a shadow, slipping out of the room and leaving an uneasy stillness in his wake.

I turned back to the three mages, my eyes narrowing slightly as I assessed them. Despite the earlier tension, they seemed to have recovered their composure, though the smallest one still looked a bit pale.

"I apologize for the rough welcome," I said, my tone more measured now. "But we are in dangerous times, and trust is a scarce commodity."

Livius nodded, understanding in his eyes. "Indeed. Which is why I've brought them. Donna, can you see to Rolo now?"

The smallest mage, who had been silent until now, nodded and rose from her seat. She moved with a quiet grace, her eyes meeting mine for a brief moment. There was something in her gaze, a flicker of something I couldn't quite place, but it was gone before I could grasp it.

"Please lead the way," she said softly.

I gestured for her to follow me, casting a final glance at Iris and the scrawny mage before leading Donna up the stairs. The house was quiet, the only sound the soft creak of the wooden steps beneath our feet.

When we reached Rolo's room, Alex was already there, standing guard by the door. He gave Donna a wary look but stepped aside to let her enter. Rolo was sitting in bed, slowly sipping the cocoa I made for him, his eyes half-lidded with exhaustion but determined to stay alert. The sight of this brought a measure of relief to my tense heart.

Donna moved to Rolo's side, her hands glowing with a soft, white light as she began to work her healing magic. Rolo's eyes sharpened, his suspicion evident as he studied every bit of magic she used. He had an extensive knowledge of magic, and his scrutiny was not something to be taken lightly.

I watched Donna carefully too, searching for any sign that something was amiss. But her movements were smooth and confident, and as the light enveloped Rolo, I could see some of the tension easing from his face. Yet, his eyes did not leave her figure, a glint of wariness remaining.

"He's mostly healed," she said after a few moments, her voice steady. "But he needs rest. The damage was extensive."

Rolo looked up, his eyes meeting mine. "I'll be fine, Shay."

"Thank you," I replied to Donna, my voice tight with controlled emotion.

Donna gave a small nod, her eyes meeting mine again. This time, there was a hint of something — sympathy, perhaps? — in her gaze.

"I understand," she said quietly.

We returned to the main room where Livius and the others were waiting. The atmosphere had lightened somewhat, but there was still an undercurrent of tension.

"Rolo will recover," Donna announced, and I saw a flicker of satisfaction cross Livius' face.

"Good," he said. "We need everyone at their best if we're to deal with the necromancer."

I nodded, my mind already racing ahead to the next steps. "Indeed. But first, we need more information.

"Iris," Livius called the taller girl, "I need you to find out everything you can about the earrings."

Iris nodded, her expression serious. "I'll do my best."

"And Gilbert," he said, addressing the scrawny mage for the first time. "We may need your... expertise. Be ready."

He gave a curt nod, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Understood."

With that, we dispersed, each of us preparing in our own way for the battle ahead. I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off, but for now, we had no choice but to work with our new allies and hope that our combined strength would be enough to face the darkness looming on the horizon.

As I stood by the window, watching the sun set over the city, I prepared myself for the call I was about to make. My fingers hovered over the phone, and I took a deep breath, steadying myself. Finally, I dialed his number and pressed the phone to my ear.

The line rang a few times before it connected. The background noise was chaotic — a crackling fire, distant shouts, and the unmistakable sound of a high-five being exchanged.

"Des," I greeted, trying to keep my tone casual.

"Shay!" Des's voice boomed through the phone, full of energy. "You called at the perfect time. Just wrapped up a job with Alice. You should see this place, it's like a scene from a movie. Uh, hold on, Alice wants to say hi."

There was a rustling sound, followed by Alice's slightly awkward but kind greeting, "Hey, Shay!"

"Hey, Alice," I replied, smiling despite myself. "Sounds like you two had quite the adventure."

"You know us," Des chimed back in, sounding more relaxed. "Always making sure to leave a mark. What's up, little brother? Need some help with a rogue vampire or a pack of werewolves?"

"Not this time," I said, forcing a laugh. "Actually, I need some information. I'm trying to track down Ronel Reisz. Heard anything about his whereabouts?"

There was a pause on the other end, the background noise suddenly seeming louder as Des considered my request. "Ronel Reisz, huh? That's a name I haven't heard in a while. Last I knew, he was off the grid, but rumors say he's hiding out somewhere up north. Why do you need to find him?"

I hesitated, choosing my words carefully. "Just some unfinished business. You know how it is."

Des's tone shifted, becoming more serious. "Shay, you're not telling me everything."

It's a fact. I never tell him everything.

"Des, it's nothing dangerous," I assured him, sounding confident. "I just need to find Reisz and get some information from him."

"Important enough to call me and not dangerous?" he asked, his protective instincts kicking in. "You know I'll help you, but I want to make sure you're not getting in over your head."

"Just a lead I need to follow up on."

Des sighed, but I could hear the resolve in his voice. "Alright, Shay. I'll see what I can dig up about Reisz's location. But if things get too hairy, you call me."

I didn't tell him that without portmagic he would have no chance to come to my aid in time.

"Promise," I said just to humor him. "Thanks, Des."

"Always," Des replied with a chuckle. "Take care, little brother."

With that, the call ended, and I stood by the window for a moment longer, the weight of the conversation settling in. Des would come through with the information, but I had to be ready for whatever lay ahead. The necromancer was no ordinary foe, and the stakes were higher than ever.

As the last light of the sunset faded, I turned away from the window, my mind already racing with plans and contingencies. The hunt for Ronel Reisz was on, and with it, the next step in our battle against the darkness.